Volume 44, Issue 17 November 5, 2014 GOD HAS A JOB FOR YOU!

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1 The Messenger Volume 44, Issue 17 November 5, 2014 GOD HAS A JOB FOR YOU! In November we ll be focusing on service as one of our paths to discipleship. Check out all the opportunities we have planned and take the challenge to participate in at least one of them! For some reason, God has set up the world so that God needs us. It's true! There are so many things that need to be done in the world, that make a difference for the kingdom of God...but God needs our help to get them done. A story from Yugoslavia tells of four angels who witnessed creation. The first angel observed God s handiwork in awe and said: Lord, your creation is beautiful! How did you do it? That s the worldview of a scientist. The second angel observed in awe and said: Lord, your creation is beautiful! Why did you do it? That s the worldview of a philosopher. The third angel observed in awe and said: Lord, your creation is beautiful! Can I have it? That s the worldview of a materialist. Finally, the fourth angel observed in awe and said: Lord, your creation is beautiful! Can I help? That s the worldview of God s faithful! After we have accepted Christ as Lord and Savior, we come to the church asking, How can I help? Lord, what do You want me to do? Where can I serve? How can I be used for the cause of Christ? Throughout the pages of the Bible, we see this. People sense the presence of God with them, and then God puts them to work. People come into the presence of God and they are given a job. The call to Discipleship means simply this: Grace and Peace, Lynne God has a job for you!

2 The Messenger Page 2 November 5, 2014 Discovering Grace in Grief Have you ever wondered about the grieving process? Have you ever experienced loss and felt like you were going crazy? Have you ever felt like you kept grieving the same loss over and over again? Rev. John Settlemyre will shed some light on the grieving process and offer some tools to help you the next time you face loss or significant change. Discovering Grace in Grief is a six week seminar. Although each session builds on previous sessions, John thoroughly reviews each week so you can benefit even if you miss a session or two. Discovering Grace in Grief is unique in that it addresses the theology behind the stages of grief and not just the stages themselves. John developed Discovering Grace in Grief during his time as a pastoral counselor and has presented the seminar numerous times over the years. You are invited to join us: Tuesday Evenings November 4 - December 9 7pm to 8:30pm Wilson Parlor Newest member of the FUMC family Shirley Brodeur October 12, 2014 Join us in November on the Road to Discipleship as we focus on growing our relationship with God through serving one another. We hope you will plan to participate in at least one of these events: First three Sundays, bring canned goods to be placed in baskets at the altar; food will be blessed during services on Nov 23, then donated to Food Basket later in the week. Nov 2 & 9 - stop by table in Narthex and order beautiful live Christmas wreaths from Society of St. Stephen; proceeds to help meet basic needs of those less fortunate in the Brazosport community. Nov 9- Habitat for Humanity - help begin the construction of house #94 at 137 Huisache Nov 15-2 to 4pm FUMC Women s Ministry Service Project (see details on page 4) Nov 16- Habitat for Humanity - help provide refreshments for dedication of house #93 in memory of A.G. Snelgrove Nov 19- join our Prayer Shawl Ministry at home of Linda Neumann to help make prayer shawls Nov 3-10:30am- share communion with Carriage Inn residents Nov 5-10:30am share communion with Plantation Villas residents Nov 6-9am help bake cookies for the Kairos Prison Ministry at FBC - Lake Jackson Nov 8-9am volunteer to help spruce things up at FUMC Nov 23- all Sunday School classes meet in Wesley Hall to sort 2000 lbs of rice and beans for the Food Basket Nov 30-8am to 1pm- Blood Drive - Wesley Hall Nov 30- YOUTH G.L.O.W. Night Nov 30- Salvation Army Angel Trees - take a tag, purchase gift, and help make a child s Christmas something special this year

3 The Messenger November 5, 2014 Page 3 SYMPATHIES On the death of: DEAN KEENEY Condolences can be sent to her husband: Al Keeney 504 Heritage Oaks Dr. Angleton, TX On the death of: CONNIE GAUBATZ Condolences can be sent to her mother: Joyce Gaubatz 4 Sherwood Dr. Clute, TX MEMORIALS Donations have been received in memory of: Given by: Gayle & Horace Driskill DEAN KEENEY Andy & Deana Wheeler Given by: Leo & Georgia Crosby Eleanor Walker H.G. & Jane Witt Bill & Curly Leshikar William B. Harrison B.E. & A.K. Pruitt Gene & Ann Taylor Mardis Family Trust Edith Lorene Griffin Charles E. & Lucie J. Golden C.C. & Mary Funderburg Irene Standard Betty & Larry Potter Nina & Douglas Kirk Jack & Sandra Miller Randy White Carolyn & John Jordan George Slover Scheleen Johnson Walker ROBERT BOB L. BRYANT Christine Manula John & Charla Pouland Leadership Team of the General Board of Discipleship Barbara Crapa Carlton Carl Norma Minnis & Gary Gray Jean Good Staff of Congressman John Bryant General Board of Discipleship The Mistler Family Foundation Joan & Tom Mistler Edwart G. Watts General Board of Discipleship - Nashville Robin Pippin, Kara Oliver & Jenny Youngman

4 The Messenger November 5, 2014 Page 4 Every 9:00am (during school year) in Wilson Parlor All you need to bring is a prayerful heart. 11am November 19th at the home of Linda Neumann 132 Lily, Lake Jackson Friday, November 21 5:30PM Shanghai Chinese Restaurant 931 Texas 332, Lake Jackson For more information and/or reservations time, call Mary Helen or mh-israel@sbcglobal.net 2 pm - 4 pm Saturday November 15 Wesley Hall We will be preparing gift baskets for two area organiza- and Please bring a 4 baby board book or a 4 stuffed animal. Donated items will be used in the service project baskets. Children are welcome! Please RSVP to church office by November 12 if you plan to attend and will need nursery care for your child(ren) ages 4 and under. Printed copies of the monthly Prayer Calendar are available at the church.

5 The Messenger November 5, 2014 Page 5 in NOVEMBER NOVEMBER 1: Thurmond Munson NOVEMBER 2: Delia Hoskins Serena Andrews NOVEMBER 3: Dorothy Morris NOVEMBER 5: Quinlan Johnson NOVEMBER 6: Colin Diehl NOVEMBER 7: Darlene Basurto NOVEMBER 8: T. C. Pearson Joyce Grindle NOVEMBER 10: Darlene Kelley David Johnson NOVEMBER 11: Josephine Overman Ron Engle NOVEMBER 13: Joyce Barefield Isaiah Garcia NOVEMBER 14: Erle Lindsey David Swisher NOVEMBER 16: Dr. Ansel McDowell, Jr. William Easter II NOVEMBER 17: Donna Grady NOVEMBER 18: Jerry Shockley NOVEMBER 19: Teri Corwin NOVEMBER 20: Sarah Copenhaver Brent Grady NOVEMBER 21: Kenneth Barr NOVEMBER 22: Trina Taylor Bob Doerr NOVEMBER 24: Andy Wheeler NOVEMBER 25: Ruth Seiwell NOVEMBER 27: Helen Bryan Billy Gray Lindsey Escuriex NOVEMBER 28: Ronald Tribble NOVEMBER 29: Debbye Simkins David Scott Kirk Diehl Jeremy Kilbourn Kalyn Hemphill Landon Standlee GIVING THANKS What a wonderful response to our Grateful Heart Sunday! As you know from the narrative budget, the ministries of FUMC are projected to be about $623,000. Assuming that next year s costs are equivalent, we are well on the way to funding our ministries for Here s a recap: The FUMC Finance Committee would like to thank the congregation for going the extra mile in giving this year. Latest reports indicate that our Y-T-D receipts are greater than total expenses for the year. With God s blessings and your continued support, we will be able to fully In 2014 we had a total of 89 estimate of giving cards turned in for a total of $345,061. As of 10/29/2014, we have had a total of 110 cards turned in for a total of $436,680. Breaking that down, there are 49 new cards for a total of $131,350, and 32 folks have increased their estimated giving for a total of $187,050! We are not yet there, but we are off to a great start! Thank you SO MUCH!! Your gifts will truly make a difference for Christ in the year to come. If you have not had an opportunity to turn in your card, please do so. In order to be good stewards of God s resources, our finance team will soon be using those numbers to plan for next year s missions and ministries.

6 The Messenger November 5, 2014 Page 6 LASER TAG NOVEMBER 9 2-7pm Leave church at 2pm - Return at 7pm $25 per person 3 hours of unlimited laser tag from 3-6pm Sugarland - includes dinner FAMILY FALL COOKOUT NOVEMBER pm FUMC Youth Center Chef Bob will cook up the burgers! Families should bring sides and desserts. We will worship outside by the firepit! More details to come! Let s GLOW Shopping NOVEMBER pm FUMC Youth Center Wear anything that glows in the dark. We will take a trip to do our Angel Tree shopping then return to the Youth Center for glow in the dark games, sardines, dinner and worship! **5 th & 6 th Graders** November 9 - Submerged in THANKS! Come and join in the fun and fellowship! We will be making some deliveries to show our thanks to some special people. We will only meet once in November because of the Thanksgiving holiday. More details about this event and others will be sent out to all 5th and 6th grade families via . To get on the distribution list, or if you have any questions, please contact Kim Copeland at copeland.kim@att.net or Here are pictures from our Submerged in dirt and Silly String activities on October 12. A lot of FUN was had by all! Submerged students in costume for the G.L.O.W. activities held October

7 The Messenger November 5, 2014 Page 7 Attitude of Gratitude Our stories this month help us to have that Attitude of Gratitude, so come to Sunday School and learn how to take time to change that attitude from sour to sweet. My parents taught me to always be thankful no matter what. I use to tell my children you are so lucky and you have lots of stuff that other children don't have. God wants you to thank Him because you believe in Jesus. Our Bible verse this month is: Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 Our bottom line for Week 1 is, you always have something to be grateful for. So I was thinking... What am I grateful for? Here is my list: Giving my time to others in serving them Remembering how others have helped me All the help and guidance my parents gave me Time to celebrate what God has done for me Image of God's love Thankful for all the leaders of my church Undying devotion of love that my husband shares with me Daily devotions that help me get closer to God Enjoyment of watching my children as adults make good decisions for their life Week 2 - Luke 17: Lepers healed by Jesus Bottom Line: Take time to say "thank you". Week 3 - Matthew 20:1-15 Parable of the vineyard workers Bottom Line: Take time to adjust your attitude. Week 4 - Exodus 23:14-19 God's plans for celebrating Bottom Line: Take time to celebrate what God has done. Week 5-1 and 2 Timothy Paul's letters to the Roman followers of Jesus Bottom Line: Take time to remember how others have helped you. Sometimes gratitude is easy to do and sometimes it is very hard. Sometimes you have to give in order to receive. So we are inviting the children of our church to give to other children in our area that might need food over the holidays. We will be collecting 16 oz. jars of jelly for Backpack Buddies (a local organization that gives school age children food in a backpack during the weekends). Your child may drop off items in their Sunday school room until November 16, then we will be meeting at the Dream Center (date TBA) to deliver the collected items. Remember: God loves a cheerful heart and that giving reflects God's love. 1 John 3:17 I pray that everyone feels gratitude this Thanksgiving season. I pray God blesses our church, our church families, and our leaders with many blessings. God is our true leader! Think about your list, what are you grateful for? Share it with someone!! It will become a blessing. Praising God Always! Kimberly Bowers FUMC Children's Ministry Director It s not too late to join in on this fun-filled music time! Wednesday afternoons 3:30pm - 4:15pm Asbury Room Grades 3 thru 6 SUNDAY SCHOOL SINGERS Sunday mornings 10:00am - 10:15am Chapel Grades K thru 2nd

8 FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, LAKE JACKSON, TEXAS Experience the Journey! First United Methodist Church 404 Azalea Lake Jackson, Texas Periodicals # Lake Jackson, TX First Church strives to be like Jesus! Praising God! Teaching God s Word! Loving one another! Address Service Requested Strengthening families! The Messenger is published monthly by the First United Methodist Church, Lake Jackson, TX Periodicals Postage Paid at Lake Jackson, TX POSTMASTER: Send address changes to FUMC, 404 Azalea, Lake Jackson, TX Sharing the Good News! Phone: Fax: ljfumc@ljfumc.org Visit us Online - Pastor: Dr. Lynne Settlemyre - pastor@ljfumc.org Administrative Pastor: Rev. John Settlemyre - johns@ljfumc.org Children s Ministry Director: Kimberly Bowers - children@ljfumc.org Volunteers are needed to help decorate as we prepare to celebrate our first Christmas season in the newly renovated sanctuary. Won t you come and be a part of this special time at FUMC? Friday, December 5th 10am At 12:30, we will break for fellowship and a light lunch. Use your QR Scanner to start Connecting with your church family on Facebook! Join our page at First United Methodist Church - Lake Jackson